Ministry of Women and Child Development is organising  National Programme on Anganwadi–cum-Crèches (AWCC) under Palna on 21^st December 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan.

The event is divided in three sessions, starting with the Inaugural Session  to be presided over by Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs.  Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai, Minister of State for  Ministry of Women and Child Development and AYUSH, Sh. Indevar Pandey, Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ms. Arti Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Sh. Inder Deep Singh Dhariwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and  Ms. Rajul Bhatt, Joint Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training will also participate in the programme .

The workshop session will be on the development of Child Care during Amrit Kaal with two Panel Discussions, first one on ‘Care Economy: Care to Empowerment’ and second Panel Discussion on ‘Intervention in implementing Day Care Centres/ Crèches’.

The Government of India’s initiatives on education and skill development of Women have resulted in more women entering the work force. In order to facilitate their entry into the work force, there is a need for quality child care services. Anganwadi centres are the world's largest childcare institutions dedicated to providing essential care and support to children ensuring delivery of care facilities till the last mile. In a first of its kind approach, the Ministry of Women & Child Development has extended the services of childcare through Anganwadi cum Crèche (AWCC) under Palna sub-component of Mission Shakti.. The objective of AWCC is to provide quality Crèche facility in a safe and secure environment for children (aged between 6 months to 6 years), nutritional support, health and cognitive development of children, growth monitoring, immunization, education etc., ensuring their well-being in a safe and secure environment. Palna, a sub-scheme under Mission Shakti, under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, was implemented for all States/UTs w.e.f. 01 April 2022, for providing day care facilities and protection to children.

As part of enabling the states and districts to operationalise Palna, the Ministry of Women & Child Development has prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for administration and implementation of scheme which includes general instructions, scheme overview, administrative hierarchy besides infrastructure and protocol for monitoring. Proposals for establishment and operation of Crèches are received from the respective State Governments/UT Administrations. During the 15^th Finance Cycle, a total of 17,000 AWCCs have been envisioned to be set-up, out of which 5222 AWCCs have been approved till date, as per proposals received from various States/UTs and as on 31.10.2023, 2412 Standalone Crèches, aided by the Government, are operational.

Sh. Indevar Pandey, Prof. Manish R. Joshi, Secretary, University Grants Commission, Ms. Kanta Singh, Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Office in India, Ms. Mitali Nikore, Economist in Gender mainstreaming, Ms. Rumjhum Chatterjee, Chairperson, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ms. Jyoti Vij Additional Secretary General, FICCI will be part of the panel discussion on ‘Care Economy: Care to Empowerment’.

 Sh. Nitishwar Kumar, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Dr. Preetam B. Yashvant , Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ms. Amneet P Kumar, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Haryana, Ms. Sumitra Mishra, Executive Director, Mobile Crèches, Ms. Veena Bandyopadhyay, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Representative to India, Ms. Saachi Bhalla, Director, India Country Office, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be part of the panel discussion on Intervention in implementing Day Care Centres/ Crèches.

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SS/TFK

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